News and video from Avalanche morning skate

Injured forwards Chuck Kobasew (head), Brandon Yip (groin) and Peter Mueller (head) each participated in this morning’s skate, but none will play tonight against the St. Louis Blues at the Pepsi Center. Winger David Jones (groin) skated briefly before the team. Defenseman Ryan Wilson (head) continues to stay off the ice.

More news on tonight’s lineup as Colorado goes for its seventh consecutive win at home here

Perhaps the biggest news of the morning is defenseman Kyle Quincey is healthy and available but will not play. He’s not too happy about it. Easily a “top-four” D-man for the Avs, Quincey missed the past two games with a slight groin injury. The Avs won both games.

“I missed last game because medical wanted to make sure I was 100 percent, but I could have played if it was a playoff game, for sure,” Quincey said. “But they decided to give me a couple practices first, and get ready for today. And I feel great. I feel like I did at the start of training camp.”

Avs coach Joe Sacco said Qunicey “Is available but we’re going to go with the same lineup on the back end.” Thus, Matt Hunwick is the sixth D.

Here’s TJ Galiardi talking about various things, including former Avs teammates Kevin Shattenkirk and Chris Stewart:

Only Sacco would choose to play Hunwick over Quincy, I get why fix what’s not broken but I mean come on he’s one of our top D men. Ugh I want Wilson to be back I hope it’s nothing serious he has been awesome this season. TJ has been a beast lately too he doesn’t deserve to be a 3rd or 4th liner or he needs better line mates.

Flapjack

I couldn’t believe how good Hunwick looked in the Flyers game. There were two stellar play break-ups that were just outstanding individual efforts on his part.

That said, W-T-effing-F?! It’s a tough call on who’s been the best Avs defenseman this year, Wilson or Quincey. As good as he’s looked the last two games, Hunwick still can’t hold his ground in front of the net or dig a puck out of the corner to save his life (Danny Briere looked like Eric Lindros against him at one point). I know the line goes, “well, all of our defensemen are playing well right now, so who do you take out? It’s a good problem to have,” but it’s not really a problem. O’Brien has been a great surprise this year, O’Byrne was an absolute beast against Philly, Elliott seems to be maturing every game, and EJ has actually looked like a stud the last five games. Hejda’s been treading water lately, maybe he should sit instead?

Why does Sacco have such a huge jones for Hunwick?! Bright side, maybe if he keeps playing well someone will actually trade for him?

Anonymous

I agree, Quincey has been outstanding, both offensively and defensively, but considering the Avs’ luck (or lack thereof) with injuries, I don’t really have a problem with them resting him one more game just to be safe. On the other hand, if Sacco’s playing Hunwick in his place just because he “deserves” to play, then they need to hurry up and can his asss.

Puckmeup

I’d take Quincey over Hejda any day of the week. However, I have also watched him miff a few times which resulted in the other team scoring 2 or 3 goals. Maybe it’s not entirely bad to have him sit another one out so when he returns to the lineup, he’ll show why he’s so valuable to this team. And yes, Hunnie-Bun has been playing better overall.

Mark T

I thought all the d-men played well against Philly, so in some ways it makes sense to keep them all in. At the same time though, Quincey has not done anything to deserve sitting. If Quincey is available, I think you have to take a hard look at the current d-men and even though they are all playing well, you have to sit whoever is playing the LEAST well. Not sure who that would be, but I don’t think Quincey is the guy who should be sitting.

“if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is a recipe for mediocrity. The saying should be, “if it ain’t broke, that’s the time to improve it”. Keeping one of our best d-men out of the lineup makes this team worse overall.

Paul

I have Quincey on my fantasy team so this hurts…..it’s close so far this week :(

Anonymous

Doesn’t matter.

Avs will beat the Blues anyways.

I hate the Blues.

Matthew

Avs are winning recently, but a big reason is a lot of luck, that they have played teams with a lot of injury problems, and that they have an old goalie standing on his head, while the supposed “franchise goalie” rides the pine. While some folks may be pleased with giguere’s play over the last handful of games, no one should expect this to continue. And actually, it’s a bad situation if Varly can’t be the franchise # 1 goalie. We gave up way too much to Washington for Varly to be a journeyman puckstopper. He has to be close to All-Star calibar for it to be worth what Sherman gave to McPhee.

LRob

Is the any legal way to watch the game without the center ice package? Id pay to watch it, I just don’t wanting buy the entire $200 center ice package because I rarely have time to watch hockey.

slapshot

Wow, tough call with Qunicy. Easy call with Giggy. Get rid of Yip. On on the fence about injury prone Jones. All in all…no depth and sooner or later they will pay for it.

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.

Chambers covers college and professional hockey for The Denver Post. He has written for the Post since 1994, after dumping his first 9-to-5 office job a couple years out of college. He primarily follows the University of Denver hockey team and helps cover the Avalanche.